The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday unveiled world’s very first Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) compliant hybrid, ethanol-powered Innova. Gadkari, speaking on the occasion, emphasized the government’s commitment towards encouraging environmentally friendly vehicles. Gadkari said, "India can reach 20 per cent Ethanol blending within three months as our ethanol manufacturers have that capacity. India can become the world's number 1 producer of ethanol," "My dream is to have all cars, two-wheelers, auto rickshaws running on 100 per cent Ethanol", the minister further added.
The union minister launched a hydrogen-powered car, the Toyota Mirai EV, last year to promote alternative and green fuel energy.
The new Innova will be powered by a hybrid powertrain that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine generates 181 bhp, providing a fuel efficiency of 23.24 kmpl. This engine is paired with an e-CVT transmission. The release date of the vehicle has not been announced yet.
The hybrid powertrain is capable of delivering fuel efficiency of up to 28 kilometers per liter in the city and 35 kilometers per liter on the highway. The car can also run on ethanol, which is a renewable fuel made from sugarcane.
